Tag: vote

Action, News and Events, RVUSA News and Updates

Weekly Action Update – October 10, 2017

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Thank you to everyone who joined us at our general meeting last week! We are proud of what RaisingVoicesUSA has accomplished, and we hope you are as energized for the months ahead as we are.

Here’s how you can take action and get involved this week.

Engage

Get caught up from our September meeting.

At our meeting on September 26, we provided a snapshot of everything we accomplished during the summer months and a roadmap for how we are moving forward as an organization. We also heard an inspiring presentation from Dr. Andrea Libresco from Hofstra University on the power of civic engagement. (And we did enjoy some sheet cake)! Read the minutes to get brought up to speed.

Review the Meeting Minutes

Attend an upcoming RaisingVoicesUSA event.

We’ll be holding a park clean-up event on October 21 [?] at [need location] – bring family and friends to help beautify our green spaces!

And be sure to mark your calendar for our next general meeting on October 24, which will include a special panel with members of the Hispanic Brotherhood of Long Island [confirm name].

Educate

Get ready to vote in local elections in November.

With Election Day fast approaching in New York, it’s important to get to know the candidates on the ballot. The RaisingVoicesUSA website has a number of resources to help you get informed:

  • A schedule of candidate forums being hosted throughout Nassau County. Candidate forums are an opportunity for you to hear directly from candidates about where they stand on key issues.

  • Candidate responses to our questionnaire on 5 critical issues for residents of the Rockville Centre area. [do we have a link for this?]

  • Links to organizations and resources with helpful information for voters.

Learn about New York State Amendment Proposals

In addition to the candidates, there are three key amendments on the ballot in New York State, including one that, if passed, would result in a constitutional convention.

Read the Proposals

Empower

Support hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria has devastated Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, and relief organizations are facing several challenges as they work to deliver aid and basic supplies to the region. American citizens in the region are in dire need of our help.

See How You Can Help Hurricane Victims

Keep raising your voice!

We know that raising your voice isn’t always easy. But we also know that it works. Since RaisingVoicesUSA began last year, we have written thousands of postcards, made calls, visited our legislators, marched and demonstrated, and we have seen the results of our collective efforts as multiple efforts to repeal the ACA have been defeated and we have held our elected officials accountable for sensible immigration reform.

We’re just getting started, and we’ll continue to need your help! Visit our website for educational resources on our priority issues, information on how to get in touch with your elected officials, and materials to host your own postcard party!

Action, News and Events, RVUSA News and Updates

Weekly Action Update – September 19, 2017

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Fall is in full swing, which means it’s time again for RaisingVoicesUSA monthly meetings! At our first meeting on Tuesday, September 26, we’ll recap what we’ve accomplished as a group and outline our direction for the future. As always, new faces are welcome. See below for time and location details.

We look forward to seeing you and kicking off a new year of continued civic engagement!

Ways to take action this week:

Keep up-to-date with the latest healthcare news

While Congress has not yet been able to pass healthcare reform, key developments have emerged in the past week. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Medicare for All Act 2017 outlining a single-payer healthcare system, while Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsay Graham introduced a new bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Learn more about these bills, their likelihood of passing, and their implications.

Prepare for Election Day

For those of us in Nassau County (and New York State), primary elections are done, and our attention turns to November’s Election. The Nassau County League of Women Voters has planned a full slate of events to help you understand the issues and get to know your local candidates. Attend an event near you if you can and get ready to hit the polls in November!

RaisingVoicesUSA General Meeting

Tuesday, September 26, 2017, 7:30 pm
Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth
430 DeMott Avenue, Rockville Centre

Join us at our first meeting following the summer break, where we’ll update you on the work of RaisingVoicesUSA and share information on our plans for the following year. New members are welcome, so please forward this email to family and friends who might be interested in attending.

Civic and Voter Engagement, Educational Resources and Tools, RVUSA Priority Issues

New York State Constitutional Convention Referendum

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With Primary Day behind us, we turn our focus to November’s Election Day, which includes a referendum on the NYS Constitutional Convention. While many members of this group are aware of this upcoming vote, please help spread the word to others as well. 

A link to general information appears below–please share this site widely, as it includes a history of Cons. Conv., pros and cons, an explanation of the process, upcoming related events, and more important information.

The unique democratic purpose of New York’s periodic constitutional convention referendum is to implement New Yorkers’ inalienable right to alter their constitution in cases where the interests of the legislature and people conflict. New York’s Constitution allows the people to exercise this right once every twenty years. To realize this democratic purpose, a convention must be substantially independent of the legislature’s control.  For example, New York’s Constitution prohibits the legislature from directly limiting a convention’s agenda. The agenda is placed in the hands of the people independently of the legislature. Democratic accountability is primarily sought by granting the people three votes over the process:

1. To call a convention, 2. to elect delegates to a convention, and 3. to ratify any amendments a convention might propose for their consideration.

The people cannot ratify any constitutional change in conflict with Federal law, including the U.S. Constitution.

Click here to read more…

Civic and Voter Engagement, Educational Resources and Tools, News and Events, Regional and National News, RVUSA Priority Issues

Nassau County, NY – Primary Voter Information and Candidates

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On Tuesday, September 12, 2017, there is a primary election taking place in Nassau County.

The following is information that you can use to determine where you vote and which candidates are running in either the Democratic or Republican primary elections.

To determine where you can go to vote, click here.   

PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Scroll down for a list of candidates running in contested primary elections in Nassau County, New York. (You can also click here for an up-to-date list.) 
Please visit the candidates’ websites to learn about their positions on issues important to you. 
Click here to learn about your Nassau County Democratic candidates.
Click here to learn about the Nassau County incumbent Republican candidate.

PRIMARY CANDIDATES:
Nassau County – County Executive – Democratic
Laura Curran DEM,WFP,WEP – www.lauracurran2017.com/join/
George Maragos DEM – www.georgemaragos.com

Nassau County – County Comptroller – Democratic
Jack E. Schnirman DEM,WFP,WEP – www.jackfornassau.com
Ama Yawson DEM – www.yestoyawson.com

Nassau County – County Clerk – Democratic
Dean E. Bennett DEM,WFP – www.deanbennett.ngpvanhost.com/dean-bennett
Carl DeHaney DEM – www.carlforclerk2017.com/

For absentee ballot information, click here.

ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Nassau County Board of Elections
240 Old Country Road – 5th Floor
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: 516-571-8683
Fax: 516-571-2058

Email Nassau County Board of Elections

Visit the Nassau County Home Page

OFFICERS
David J. Gugerty, Comm.
Louis G. Savinetti, Comm.
Michael Santeramo, Dep. Comm.
Carol Demauro Busketta, Dep. Comm.

Action, Civic and Voter Engagement, RVUSA Priority Issues

NY Primary Elections – Be sure to vote!

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NY residents–next Tuesday, 9/12 are the primary elections. As a closed primary state, only voters registered for the party which is holding the primary may vote.

Voter turn out in past primaries has been traditionally low–let’s raise our voices in the voting booth next week, and encourage family, friends, and neighbors to do the same!

Click here to find your voting location and district information.

Click here to learn about your NYC candidates.

Click here to learn about your Nassau County Democratic candidates.

Click here to learn about the Nassau County incumbent Republican candidate.